Saadi Shirazi

Ch 01 Manner Of Kings Story 06

It is narrated that one of the kings of Persia had stretched forthhis tyrannical hand to the possessions of his subjects and had begunto oppress them so violently that in consequence of his fraudulentextortions they dispersed in the world and chose exile on account ofthe affliction entailed by his violence. When the population haddiminished, the prosperity of the country suffered, the treasuryremained empty and on every side enemies committed violence.

Who desires succour in the day of calamity, Say to him: 'Be generous in times of prosperity.' The slave with a ring in his ear, if not cherished will depart. Be kind because then a stranger will become thy slave.

One day the Shahnamah was read in his assembly, the subject beingthe ruin of the dominion of Zohak and the reign of Feridun. The vezierasked the king how it came to pass that Feridun, who possessed neithertreasure nor land nor a retinue, established himself upon thethrone. He replied: 'As thou hast heard, the populationenthusiastically gathered around him and supported him so that heattained royalty.' The vezier said: 'As the gathering around of thepopulation is the cause of royalty, then why dispersest thou thepopulation? Perhaps thou hast no desire for royalty?'

It is best to cherish the army as thy life Because a sultan reigns by means of his troops.

The king asked: 'What is the reason for the gathering around ofthe troops and the population?' He replied: 'A padshah must practisejustice that they may gather around him and clemency that they maydwell in safety under the shadow of his government; but thoupossessest neither of these qualities.'

A tyrannic man cannot be a sultan As a wolf cannot be a shepherd. A padshah who establishes oppression Destroys the basis of the wall of his own reign.

The king, displeased with the advice of his censorious vezier,sent him to prison. Shortly afterwards the sons of the king's unclerose in rebellion, desirous of recovering the kingdom of their father.The population, which had been reduced to the last extremity by theking's oppression and scattered, now assembled around them andsupported them, till he lost control of the government and they tookpossession of it.

A padshah who allows his subjects to be oppressed Will in his day of calamity become a violent foe. Be at peace with subjects and sit safe from attacks of foes Because his subjects are the army of a just shahanshah.